Towable RVs and motorhomes are a great way for you and your family to travel and explore the country. However, it’s important that you remain safe during your RV travels. This means you should think twice about allowing passengers in the RV to stand, walk, and move around while driving.
In fact, free movement around a moving RV is considered to be so dangerous that many states have seat belt laws that stipulate that all passengers must remain seated and strapped in at all times. However, there are others with more lax laws that do permit moving around inside a moving RV.
Whether or not you have this freedom will depend on your state’s seat belt laws.
Key Takeaways
- Comply with state-by-state RV seat belt laws to ensure safety for the driver and passengers.
- Avoid walking around in a moving RV whenever possible due to risks of injury and potential legal implications.
- Follow additional safety measures, such as installing car seats for minor passengers, limiting movement while driving, and pulling over to use the bathroom/shower areas.
RV Seat Belt Laws: State-by-State Guide
RV seat belt laws will vary from state to state. Many states mandate that the driver and all other occupants in the RV must wear seat belts while the vehicle is in motion, while other states stipulate that only the driver and front passenger must wear a seat belt.
Here’s a list of states that require all passengers to be strapped in (for safety purposes) while the vehicle is in motion.
- Alaska
- California
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Wyoming
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Washington
- Utah
- South Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Oregon
- Montana
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
These states have stricter seat belt laws than most. In all other states, only the RV driver and front passenger are required to wear a seatbelt in a moving motorhome. This rule doesn’t extend to backseat passengers.
Class A, B, and C Motorhomes
With those states that enforce stringent seatbelt laws, note that said laws apply to all types of motorhomes, from Class A and C to camper vans.
Even if you’re traveling through a state with lax RV laws, it’s advisable that people remain seated and buckled up when traveling in a motorhome. It’s unwise to stand up and move around more than necessary because of the potential risks of a sudden stop or car crash.
Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels
Much like the rules enforced in motorized RVs, the RV rules for standing and moving around in towable RVs while in motion vary from state to state and are ultimately contingent on the state’s general seatbelt laws.
However, travel trailers and fifth-wheel campers typically don’t have seatbelts because they aren’t designed to be occupied while moving.
While some states permit riding in a towed camper while it’s moving, it’s highly recommended that you don’t. When a towable RV is in motion, these travel trailer occupants are at a very high risk of injury, should the vehicle suddenly screech to halt, or sway from side to side on uneven terrain.
Can You Use the Bathroom in a Moving RV?
Whether or not you can use the bathroom in a recreational vehicle while it’s moving depends on your state’s seat belt laws. If the law says that you must always remain strapped in, you cannot use the RV bathroom while the RV is in motion.
If local laws stipulate that passengers in the rear of the RV don’t have to be buckled up, it’s okay for them to use the bathroom. Keep in mind, however, that using the bathroom in a moving vehicle is dangerous because it requires you to unstrap your seat belt and walk around.
Therefore, it’s recommended that you pull over first if someone needs to use the facilities.
Sleeping in an RV While Driving: What’s Allowed?
As with using the bathroom in a moving RV, sleeping in an RV bed while the recreational vehicle is in motion is also dangerous. After all, beds typically aren’t equipped with safety belts, meaning that sleeping in an RV bed while moving is illegal in states with stringent seat belt laws.
If, however, you can sleep in a seated position while strapped in, there’s no reason why you can’t grab some shut-eye in a moving RV.
Activities Permitted in a Moving RV
As you can see, there are restrictions imposed on what you can do inside an RV while it’s moving. However, as long as you adhere to each state’s respective seat belt laws, you can engage in road trip fun, like playing board games or card games as a family. Wifi permitting, you may also be able to challenge your fellow passengers to a video game tournament or pass the time with a movie marathon.
After all, your RV’s electrical systems work while your motorhome is in transit, which means that, as long as your RV has Wi-Fi capabilities, you can even game and stream movies online.
Car Seats and Child Safety in RVs
If you’re traveling with young children, RV safety becomes all the more critical. Even if car seats aren’t required by law in RVs in your state, you should always utilize them.
Installing Additional Seat Belts in Your RV
For passenger safety and compliance with state regulations, it’s a good idea to install seat belts in the rear of your RV.
Push-button lap belts on any seats in the back of your rig come expert-recommended. Push button lap belts are very easy to install and will keep your passengers safe as long as they remain buckled up.
For optimal RV safety, you can opt for a three-point seat belt. These seatbelt types wrap around the shoulder as well as the lap, making for more comprehensive protection.
If you choose to install seat belts in your RV, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If necessary, you can also hire a professional RV technician or mechanic to perform the installation for you.
Summary
If you’re embarking on a cross-country road trip, you’ll want to obey the road safety rules of every state you plan to travel through. These RV-specific laws, including seat belt laws, are implemented to keep you and your passengers safe (not hamper your road trip fun).
Before you ease into vacation mode, confirm your RV is up to spec safety-wise. That way, you can unwind without thoughts of potential safety risks interrupting your sightseeing (or your workday, if you plan to make money on the road).
In addition to RV travel laws, there are laws that stipulate where you can legally park and store your rig.
If you don’t have a location at your home that complies with RV storage laws, consider using Neighbor, a peer-to-peer storage marketplace. Using Neighbor, you can find safe, convenient, and affordable RV storage options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Move Around in an RV While It’s Moving?
If your state laws require that all passengers remain strapped in during transit, you cannot move around while your RV is moving.
How Many People Can Be in an RV While Driving?
The number of people that can occupy an RV depends on the amount of seatbelts the RV has. The number of passengers shouldn’t exceed the amount of seat belts.
What Should You Not Do in an RV While It’s Moving?
While an RV is moving, you should refrain from walking around, standing up, using the bathroom, or otherwise removing your seat belt and distracting the driver.
